Loading machine



F. CARTLIDGE May 21, 1935.

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 15, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l F.CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE May 21, 1935.

Original Filed Feb. 15, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z 9% MMv6;

May 21, 1935. F. CARTLIDGE I LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 15,1932 Patented May 21, 1935 PATENT OFFICE LOADING MACHINE FrankCartlidge, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 15, 1932,Serial No. 592,909

Renewed September}, 1934 18 Claims. (01. 198-9) This invention relatesto loading machines of the type adapted to load coal in mines at theworkingface and has among 'other objects to provide a new and improvedgathering and loading element for picking up and loading coal or likematerial.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

. Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown Like numerals refer tolike parts throughout the various figures.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the main elements of theembodiment of my invention illustrated are similar to those disclosed ina prior application bearing Serial Number 472,701, filed by me August 2,1930, and entitled Improvements in loading machines, and consist of aWheeled truck or main frame In having an inclined gathering and loadingelement l l in front of said main frame, and a discharge conveyor I 2extending from beneath the rear end of said gathering and loadingelement and upwardly and rearwardly .therefrom overhanging the rear endof said main frame for discharging material into suitable receptaclessuch as mine cars.

Suitable means are provided for driving the main operating parts, whichmeans herein comprises an electric motor l3. Said electric motor 5 hasdriving connection with the truck wheels for driving the loading machineabout the mine and for feeding the loading element into the material tobe loaded. Said electric motor also serves as a driving means for theoperating parts of the gathering and loading element l I for raising orlowering said gathering and loading element, and for swinging saidgathering and loading element about a vertical axis. The details of thedrive to themain operating parts are similar to those disclosed in myaforementioned a pair of parallel spaced chains prior application sowill not herein be shown or described in detail.

The gathering and loading element ll comprises an inclined conveyorframe l4 supported between a pair of upright side plates I5 for pivotalmovement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis disposed adjacentthe rearward end thereof. Said upright side plates are in turn supportedon the main frame I0 for swinging said inclined conveyor frame about avertical axis and positioning said gathering and loading element forgathering from various sections in the working place. The means forswinging said upright side plates about a vertical axis and saidinclined conveyor frame abouta horizontal axis are not herein shown nordescribed since they are no portion of my present invention and arefully disclosed in my aforementioned prior application.

The inclined conveyor frame [4 has an apron I8 formed integral therewithand extending forwardly therefrom and along the sides thereof forengaging the ground ahead of said conveyor frame and carrying the majorportion of the gathering mechanism.

The inclined conveyor frame I4 is provided with a central portion or pan8 forming a surface for moving material therealong and sides 9 extendingupwardly and downwardly therefrom. Suitable means are provided formoving loose material along the central portion or pan 8 of saidinclined conveyor frame which may be of any construction but which isherein preferably shown as being a flight conveyor indicated byreference character [9.

The flight conveyor I9 may be of any suitable construction, but isherein shown as comprising having flights 2| carried therebetween in asuitable manner. Said chains are trained around sprockets 22 adjacentthe rearward end of the conveyor frame l4 keyed on a transverselyextending drive shaft 23 coaxial with the axis of pivotal connection ofsaid conveyor frame with the upright side plates [5.

Said transversely extending drive shaft is driven from the motor 13 bymeans of a suitable geared reduction drive and chain and sprocket drivesgenerally indicated by reference character 24 in a manner similar tothat disclosed in my hereinbefore mentioned prior application.

The conveyor chains 20 extend forwardly from the sprockets 22 beneaththe central portion or pan 8 of the conveyor frame l4 over idler rollers25 and around drive sprockets 26 keyed on a transversely extending shaft21 for driving said shaft. The idler rollers 25 are adjustable in ausual manner, which will not herein be described in detail, tocompensate for wear in said conveyor chains. From thence said conveyorchains extend rearwardly along the top surface of the central portion orpan 8 of said conveyor frame to the sprockets 22 for moving materialupwardly along said pan.

The apron l 8 extends forwardly of the conveyor frame it and rearwardlyalong each side of said forward section of said conveyor frame, and hasan underportion 33 adapted to engage the ground which, with the forwardend of said apron, forms a wedge so said apron may be moved along theground and wedged under the coal. It should be noted that the length ofthe ground engaging surface of the underportion 33 compared to thelength of the apron I8 is relatively short to permit the loading elementH to be adapted to rough or uneven mine bottoms and thus enable theforward end of the apron it to be disposed adjacent the ground undervarying conditions of mining.

The apron I8 is adapted to support gathering mechanism 3! on its topsurface adjacent opposite sides of the conveyor l9. The gatheringmechanism 3i will hereinafter be more fully described and includesrotatably movable gathering arms 33 disposed adjacent opposite sides ofthe flight conveyor I9, and said gathering arms and top surface oftheapron 08 are inclined at a greater angle of incidence with respect tothe ground upon which the machine rests than said conveyor fordepositing material on said conveyor and to prevent this material frombeing carried past the conveyor.

While the apron i3 may be elevated above the ground its underportion 30is usually adapted to engage the ground during the loading operation andsaid apron is adapted to be forced into the material which is beingloaded to permit said material to be continuously gathered by thegathering mechanism 3|. With reference to Figures 2 and 3, it may beseen .that the paths of the gathing arms 33 are substantially circularin form and are 50 arranged that a space whose bottom margins aregenerally in the form of a V converging towards the apron i8 is left infront of the central portion of said apron. Due to the fact that it isdesirable to have the gathering arms 33 move simultaneously towards theconveyor H9 in order to more efiiciently gather the loose material, andthat large lumps of material are apt to foul oppositely disposedgathering arms, it is impractical to space said gathering arms closeenough together to eliminate this V shaped dead space. In order toeliminate this dead space and permit the apron i8 and its associatedgathering mechanism 3! to be forced into the coal to perform the loadingoperation, a portion has been cut from the central forward end of saidapron whose lower margins conform generally to the paths of adjacentgatherings arms and converge at a central point as is indicated byreference character 32. The sides of this receding central forwardportion of the apron it are inclined laterally upwardly and rearwardlyfromthe lower margins thereof and form in effect awedge which may bemoved under and lift up the material left in the dead. space formed bythe gathering arms 33. It may clearly be seen that when the forwardportion of the apron i8 is so arranged, the forward end of said apronmay be forced ahead of the material left in the dead space and that thereceding central portion thereof will lift up said material and enablethe gathering mechanism 3| and gathering arms 33 to pick up saidmaterial, which arrangement in effect eliminates said dead space.

Referring now in particular to the details of said gathering mechanismand the novel features of my invention, said gathering mechanismincludes the gathering arms 33 which are rotatably moved by means ofrotatable drums 34. Inasmuch as the gathering mechanism on each side ofthe flight conveyor i9 is of a similar construction, the gatheringmechanism on one side of said conveyor only will herein be described indetail.

The rotatable drum 3d rests on the apron I8 and is provided with bearingsurfaces 33 engaging the top surface of said apron so said drum may berotated with respect thereto. A hub 36 depends from said rotatable drumand is journaled on a shaft 31 extending perpendicular to said apron,which shaft is keyed adjacent its lower end in a boss 39. Said boss issecured to a housing 40 depending from said apron by suitable securingmeans such as nuts and bolts.

The means for driving the rotatable drum 34 comprises a bevel gear ilkeyed on the hub 36 of said rotatable drum, which bevel gear meshes withand is driven by a bevel pinion l2 keyed I gathering arm to be slidablymoved with respect thereto.

The gathering arm 33 is pivotally supported adjacent its inner end on apin 44 disposed eccentrically of the axis of rotation of the drum 34 andextending upwardly from and integral with a crank 45 integral with theshaft 3?. Suitable means are provided for holding said gathering arm onsaid pin which herein comprise a washer and nut indicated at 46.

The rotatable drum 34 is provided with a removable cover 4! and suitablecurved bearing members indicated at 48 adjacent opposite sides of theopening 43 are adapted to engage opposite sides of the gathering arm 33and move said gathering arm about its axis of pivotal connection to thecrank 45 upon rotation of said drum.

It may now be seen that when the drum 34 is rotated by the bevel pinion42 and bevel gear 4!, that the gathering arm 33 will be moved about itsaxis of pivotal connection to the crank 45 which will cause saidgathering arm to telescope within the rotatable drum 34 as it leaves theflight conveyor l9 and cause said gathering arm to extend'from saidrotatable drum as it approaches the forward end of the apron l8 and theloose material which it is desired to load onto said flight conveyor.

Thus the gathering arms 33 are so arranged on each side of the flightconveyor 19 that they extend forwardly and outwardly from the drums 34during the initial gathering operation and engage and sweep the coal orloose material onto the flight conveyor l9 and disappear within saiddrums when leaving said flight conveyor. With such an arrangement amaximum portion of the gathering arm is present to pick up and move theloose material onto the conveyor and a minimum portion of said gatheringarm is present when moving away from the conveyor to prevent saidgathering arm from carrying loose material beyond the conveyor to eachside thereof and to prevent unnecessary scattering of said loosematerial. It should be noted that the position in which the gatheringarms 33 extend in an extreme forward position with respect to the drummaterial beyond said plane of said limits of said having slidableengagement rotation of said drum causes a fixed axis within thepositions of-the gathering device has been provided which is of, arugged and simple construction so arranged as to present a maximumgathering surface when *needed and disappear when said gatheringsurfaceis notneededand which will deposit a'maximum amount ofmaterial'onto a material .conveying means and carry a minimum amount ofmaterial conveying means. While I havejhereinshown and described oneform of iny invention, I do not wish to be limited to the'precis'edetails of construction or arrange mentsg of parts herein shown anddescribed except as specifically limited in the appended claims. i Iclaim as my invention:

1. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising an apron, a drum carriedby said apron forrotation withrespect thereto, and a gathering armpivotally mounted plane parallel tothe plane of fixed axis within the limits for movement in a said apronabout a of said drum and eccentric of the axis of rotation ofsaid drum.c I i Ina. loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising, an apron, a

drum 'carried by said apron for rotation with respect thereto, and

a gathering arm pivotally mounted for movement in a plane parallel tothe apron about a fixed axis within the drum and eccentric of the axisof rotationof said drum,said'gathering arm extending beyond theboundaries of said drum and therewith whereby rotatable movement of saidgathering arm and slidablemovementof said gathering arm with respect tosaid drum.

'3. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising an apron, iaKdrum carried by said apron for rotation withrespect thereto about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said apron,and a gathering arm mounted for pivotal movement about an axis locatedwithin the limitstof said drum parallel to but eccentric of the axisofrotation of said drum.

4. In a loading machina gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising an apron, a drum carried by Said apron for rotation withrespect'thereto about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said apron,anda gathering arm mounted for pivotal movement about an axis locatedwithin the limits of said drum parallel to but eccentric of the axis ofrotation of said drum, said gathering arm extending beyond theboundaries of said drum and having slidable en gagement therewithwhereby rotation of said drum causes rotatablemovement of said gatheringarm and slidable movement of said gathering arm with respect to saiddrum.

5. In. a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising an inclined apron, a rotatable drum on said apron, and agathering arm having slidable engagement with said drum and havingpivotal movement about 7 the limits of said drum and disposed eccentricof the center of said drum.

6. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising an apron, a rotatable drum carried by said apron forrotaabout an axis disposed eccentric of the axis of rotation ofsaidrotatable drum, said gathering arm extending beyond and havingoperative concauses rotatable movement of said gathering arm withrespect to said rotatable drum in a plane parallel tothe f plane of 1said apron.

'7; In .a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising anapron, a drum on said apron, a gathering arm pivotallymounted for movement about an axis eccentric of the center of said drumand for extension from and retraction, within said drum in a planeparallel to the plane of said extending said gathering arm from andretracting said gatheringarm within said drum comprising drive meansforrotating said drum about its center.

8. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising. an apron, a drum on said apron, a gathering arm extending ina plane parallel to the plane of saidsapron, aslotted portion formed bythe sidesuofsaid drum and adapted to engage the sides of said gatheringarm; said gathering arm being pivoted for movement aboutan axis-located,within said drum and disposed eccentric of the center thereof,- andmeans for extending said gatheringarm from and retracting said gatheringarm within said drum comprising means for rotating said drum about anaxis coaxial with its center and perpendicular to the plane ofsaidapron.

9. In a loading-machine, gatheringand loading mechanism thereforcomprising a conveyor, an orbitally movablegathering arm disposedforwardly thereof, and means fororbitally moving said gathering armcomprising. a rotatable drum adapted to receive said gathering arm'andhave slidable 1 engagement therewith, said gathering arm being pivotallyconnected. to a fixed pivot withinthe boundaries of said drum forpivotal movement aboutaniaxis parallel to but eccentric apron, and meansfor of the center of rotation of said rotatable drum;

10. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising a conveyor,

an orbitally movable gathering arm -movable towards and awayfrom saidconveyor in a plane inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to theground, and means for orbitally moving said gathering arm towards andaway from said conveyor comprising a rotatable drum adapted to receivesaid gathering arm and have slidable engagement therewith, saidgathering arm being pivotally connected to a fixed point within theboundaries of said drum parallel to but eccentric of the axis ofrotation of said rotatable drum.

11. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising a conveyor,

an orbitally movable gathering arm disposed on each side of saidconveyor, and means for orbitally moving said gathering arms towards andaway from said conveyor comprising a pair of rotatable drums, each ofsaid drums being adapted to receive one of said gathering arms and haveslidable engagement therewith and said gathering arms being pivotallyconnected adjacent their inner ends to fixed points within the limits ofsaid rotatable drums parallel to but eccentric of the center of rotationof said rotatable drums.

12. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising a conveyor, an

orbitally movable gathering arm disposed on each side of said conveyorand movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of saidconveyor able engagement with tion of said rotatable for orbitallymoving said gathering arms towards and away from said conveyorcomprising a pair of rotatable drums, each of said drums being adaptedto receive one of said gathering arms and having slidable engagementtherewith and said gathering arms being pivotally connected adjacenttheir inner ends to fixed points within the limits of said rotatabledrums parallel to but eccentric of the center of rotation of saidrotatable drums.

13. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism'thereforcomprising a conveyor, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and toeach side of said conveyor, 2. pair of rotatable drums on said aprondisposed at opposite sides of said conveyor and a pair of gathering armshaving slidsaid drums for extension therefrom, said gathering armshaving pivotal connection with a fixed point eccentric of the center ofrotation of said rotatable drums and within the limits thereof.

'14. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising a conveyor, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and toeach side of said conveyor, a pair of rotatable drums on said aprondisposed at opposite sides of said conveyor for rotation about axesperpendicular to the plane of said inclined apron, and a pair ofgathering arms movable towards and away from said conveyor in a planeparallel to the plane of said apron having slidable engagement with saiddrums and having connection with a fixed point withinthe limits of saidrotatable drums parallel with but eccentric of the axes of rotadrums. I

15. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising a conveyor, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and toeach side of said conveyor, a pair of rotatable drums on said aprondisposed at opposite sides of said conveyor for rotation in a planeparallel to the plane of said inclined apron, a pair of gathering armshaving slidable engagement with said drums and having connection withfixed points eccentric of the centers of rotation of said drums, andmeans for extending said gathering arms from said drums forwardly ofsaid inclined apron into a conveyor driven by 2,002,199 towards andaway. from saidconveyor, and means pile of material, thence transverselytowards said conveyor and thence retract said gathering arms within saidrotatable drums when leaving said conveyor comprising a drive connectionfor rotating said drums.

16. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising a conveyor, a drum disposed to one side of said conveyor forrotation about an axis inclined with repeat-to the perpendicular, and agathering arm movable forwardly of said drum and laterally towards saidsaid drum and having slidable engagement with said drum and beingpivotally movable with respect thereto about a fixed axis within thelimits of said drum and eccentric of but parallel to drum.

17. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism thereforcomprising a conveyor, a drum disposed on each side of said conveyor forrotation about parallel axes inclined with respect to the perpendicular,and gathering arms movable forwardly of said drums and laterallyrearwardly towards said conveyor driven by said drums and havingslidable engagement with said drums andbeing pivotally movable withrespect thereto about fixed axes within the limits of said drums andeccentric of but parallel to the axes of rotation of said drums.

18. In a loading machine, a conveyor, gathering mechanism thereforcomprising a rotatable drum disposed to one side of said conveyor androtatable in a plane disposed transversely of said conveyor, a gatheringarm pivoted within said rum for rotation about a fixed axis eccentric ofbut parallel to the'axis of rotation of said drum and extending from andhaving slidable engagement with the sides of said drum, and means forextending said gathering arm from said drum forwardly of said conveyorinto a pile of material, thence transversely towards said conveyor andthence retracting said arm within said rotatable drum when leaving saidconveyor comprising means for rotating said drum for pivotally movingsaid gathering arm about said aforementioned fixed axis.

the axis of rotation of said FRANK CARTLIDGE.

